12 Solan institutions certified as green schools

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 8

Twelve schools of Solan district, among 14 from across the state, have secured a place in the Green Schools Environmental Audit Programme. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi, has certified them as green schools. These were among 172 schools certified at the national level and given awards by CSE Director General Sunita Narain on February 6.

Amreesh Sharma, District Science Superintendent, said that under the programme, the online data of various environmental parameters such as air, energy usage, food, land, water and waste were evaluated by the CSE, which certifies a school as green, yellow, orange and red. Sharma was also given an award for his exemplary efforts in encouraging schools to participate in the programme through online submissions as well as organising trainings. He also conducted an open quiz on environment at the India Habitat Centre, Delhi, for all participating students.

As many as 147 online submissions, including 97 from Solan district alone, were made from the state. Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Chail, and Shivalik Valley School in Solan district bagged the Change Maker School Award while GSSS, Khuji in Sirmaur district, was given the award in the new entrant category. Government High School, Dugha in Hamirpur district, was declared the Best School in the land category for its efforts to conserve environment under the Green Schools Programme Climate Change Award-2019.

Sharma said that innovative efforts made by Shivalik Valley School to save energy usage by installing bigger windows and ventilators, besides solar panels earned it the award. In GSSS, Chail, efforts such as vermicompost management from waste generated in the school, setting up a kitchen garden and water harvesting earned it the award.

The Education Department and the Himachal Pradesh Council of Science Technology and Environment provide funds for the constitution of eco clubs and other environment-related activities in schools.

Students also displayed their models based on renewable energy at the award ceremony. Deputy Director, Elementary Education, Sarvan Chaudhary, congratulated the students for their achievements. As many as eight government schools, namely Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Subathu; Government High School (GHS), Dharon Ki Dhar; GHS, Rauri; GSSS, Dharampur; GSSS, Dhundan; GHS, Dangheel; GSSS, Chail; and GSSS, Kakkarhatti; and four private schools, namely MRA DAV School, Solan; Pinegrove School, Dharampur and Subathu; and St Luke’s School, Solan, have secured the All-India Green Certified School ranking.